Arrival of shops, restaurants boost Arts District

As Las Vegans ponder the continuing revitalization of downtown, one rule has become clear: Even starving artists need to eat, and art galleries alone don't make a neighborhood.

That's why small-business owners are now working to turn the downtown Arts District - a hodgepodge of car repair shops, furniture stores and scattered galleries between Hoover and Colorado avenues and Fourth Street and Las Vegas Boulevard - into a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with cafes, retail shops and other urban amenities.

Bill Johnson and Marc Comstock are part of the Arts District renaissance. The pair gambled on downtown four years ago when they opened the midcentury vintage shop Retro Vegas. Earlier this year, they put down $500,000 for a permanent location at 1131 S. Main St.

A few blocks away, Anthony Hughes is busy turning a vacant storefront at 300 E. Charleston Blvd. into the Simpo Sandwich shop.

Several other entrepreneurs have in recent months opened storefronts in the area, committed to turning the Arts District into a creatively minded neighborhood that tips a cap to the district's industrial roots.

A WALKABLE DISTRICT

The Arts District was willed into being in 2000, led by Arts Factory owner Wes Myles (also known as Wes Isbutt). The galleries that soon began popping up around Myles' anchor give the old industrial area a new flavor, but they tend to be unpredictable; some open to the public only for the monthly First Friday activities. That event draws thousands of people to the neighborhood, but there is little else to for them to do or see.

"How could this be an actual walking district if businesses are only open one day of the month?" said Kinsey Peters, who in February opened vintage clothing store Electric Lemonade with he sister, Courtney.

The sisters took over the former home of another vintage clothing store, House of Style, at 220 E. Charleston Blvd. Like others who are investing in the area, they hope to make the Arts District feel more like Brooklyn, with young entrepreneurs opening creative businesses close to one another.

Sales at Electric Lemonade have been inconsistent from week to week, but the store is gaining traction with young professionals in the area, helped by the sisters' devotion to social media and influx of customers from First Friday.

Lack of parking and places to eat are also issues for the sisters. Kinsey said she longs for a nearby coffee shop or bakery. Tapas restaurant Bar + Bistro in the Arts Factory recently expanded its hours, but other food and beverage options are scarce.

Simpo Sandwich owner Anthony Hughes is taking advantage of the growing demand. His shop won't open until later this month, but Hughes and his family hosted a recent First Friday meet-and-greet to become better acquainted with other Arts District stakeholders.

Hughes expects mo-ped delivery service to downtown corporate clients to account for some 75 percent of his business, at least initially. But Hughes is already seeing interest from passersby, who often peek into the still-closed restaurant's windows.

"I've been getting people in the area coming to the door, people at night (asking), 'Are you open?' " Hughes said.

SHOPPING THE BLOCK

Downtown resident and urban historian Brian "Paco" Alvarez said the Arts District, a largely industrial, nonresidential area, needs to achieve a critical mass of retail and restaurants to draw more interest.

"When people see lots of little businesses closer together, they're more likely to park their car, get out and walk around," Alvarez said. "We need more clustering of businesses. That's going to help."

That's already happening for a subset of the arts scene. Even before the Arts District existed, antique stores gravitated toward the neighborhood.

More than two decades ago, Red Rooster, now the Charleston Antique Mall, took over the 7-Up Bottling Co. facility near the nexus of Charleston Boulevard and Interstate 15. The Attic, a vintage clothing store, set up shop on Main Street just north of Charleston in the early 1990s.

The Attic closed earlier this year, and the Charleston Antique Mall is moving to 560 S. Decatur Blvd., near Arizona Charlie's, ahead of a freeway expansion that will level its old building.

But others are moving in.

Retro Vegas' Bill Johnson noticed a recent influx of antique furniture and vintage clothing stores, with Electric Lemonade, Medusa Antiques, Patina Decor and Corner Store Furniture Co. opening this spring alone. He and co-owner Marc Comstock decided to use the opportunity to market the area as "Antique Alley."

"Antique stores start to naturally gravitate toward each other," Johnson said. "When you have a little Antique Alley, it's easier for customers to be able to shop the block than if you're all spread out."

Johnson produced a map with the addresses and hours of 18 Arts District antique stores to hand out to clientele. The map on May 4 was placed at neighborhood businesses and The Beat coffeehouse on Fremont Street. Johnson hopes to stack maps in rack stands on the Strip and distribute them to hotel concierges to increase tourist traffic.

He isn't concerned about competition. Antiques shoppers tend to search for pieces at multiple places, and stores seldom have the same inventory.

Johnson said a customer was recently searching for furniture designed by a specific 1960s-era artist. She found sofas at both Retro Vegas and Patina Decor, and bought them both. That shows the synergy created by Antique Alley.

"It's brilliant, because now you're creating a destination for people who are not necessarily interested in artwork but are interested in vintage furniture," Alvarez said. "All of a sudden you're creating this very walkable attraction."

Johnson said Retro Vegas has seen a 200 percent increase in traffic in the two months since opening its larger location. Maybe the 5,000-square-foot, hot pink storefront stands out more than its 2,500-square-foot former incarnation. Or maybe, just maybe, more people are shopping the block.

Contact reporter Caitlin McGarry at cmcgarry@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273.